While installing tiles, many households tend to assume that large wall tiles and large floor tiles are the same. Many times, they also try to interchange large wall tiles with large floor tiles and vice-versa.
But doing this is not at all suggested until and unless the actual difference between wall tiles and floor tiles is correctly assessed and understood by the households.
Knowing the difference will help every household in choosing the right tiles from a professional supplier of tiles in Melbourne.
7 Crucial Difference Between Large Wall Tiles and Large Floor Tiles
While installing large wall tiles and large floor tiles, it is important to know the actual difference between both.
- Size of the Tiles
Usually, large sizes are preferred for floor tiles because they ultimately result in very few joints. They appear smooth and seamless. But large wall tiles are also preferred for house walls. These are also perfect for installing in areas where the level of water and moisture is very high, such as bathrooms, sink/basin backsplashes, etc.
- Thickness of the Tiles
The thickness of a tile will be based on its intended function and overall performance. Floor tiles are good for handling daily wear and tear of high traffic and footfall. Hence, they are thicker than wall tiles.
Additionally, they provide great resistance to abrasives and harmful liquids or chemicals. Due to this reason, large floor tiles in Melbourne are used as wall tiles, especially in the areas with huge loads and traffic.
On the other hand, wall tiles are installed for good protection. They mainly help to save the house from water seeping into the walls and thus do not need any kind of load-bearing capacity.
Hence, wall tiles are not so thick. While floor tiles can be easily installed on the wall, wall tiles must not be installed on the floors.
- Friction on the Tiles
Every tile has some certain level of friction. This means there will be resistance while moving on the floor. This is normal and would also help to determine if the surface of the tile is very smooth for walking, moving, etc.
In this case, floor tiles are identified to be safe for use if they can provide a good level of friction while walking on them. This ultimately means that it will always help in preventing accidents from skids or slips.
Certainly, this factor will not at all be considered in the case of large wall tiles.
- Durability of the Tiles
As already discussed, floor tiles are durable and have high load-bearing abilities. This is because these floor tiles pass through different levels of longevity and hardness to gain a relevant rating known as the PEI rating.
The actual range of these ratings varies between one to five. Certainly, five means the durability of the tiles is top-class whereas one means that the durability is very low.
The maximum rating will identify the tiles in Melbourne as extremely durable. All those tiles rated between one to three are suitable for walls, whereas, those rated above three are ideal for floors.
- Aesthetics of the Tiles
Aesthetics is one of those definite reasons for which tiles are chosen by households. The tile design selected must be compatible with the specifications of the rest of the property.
Large floor tiles are made and available in almost every colour existing in this world. The design of these tiles is unique and can be customised in any different pattern for installation.
Large wall tiles are also present in a wide range of styles, designs, and patterns. Each of these can also be customised, as per different needs and choices effectively and efficiently.
- Installation of the Tiles
The complete installation process of both floor tiles and wall tiles is almost the same. But as the overall thickness of floor tiles is higher than the wall tiles, precisely cutting them to form the desired shape and size is usually very time-consuming. However, wall tiles can be cut in the right shape and size and installed in no time.
- Cost of the Tiles
The actual cost of both the tiles can depend on different factors. This may include its size, thickness levels, materials, patterns, etc. Also, the cost of both these tiles is very close. This is because the exact point of cost for floor tiles is based on their size and longevity, whereas, for wall tiles, it mostly depends on the aesthetics and unique appearances.
Conclusion
Large wall tiles are only to be used for installing in the walls because they are not made for handling heavy loads and traffic. Moreover, they are very easy to maintain and long-lasting. Once you have understood the differences between the two, it gets easier at the time of tile installation. Always get tiles in Melbourne from a reliable supplier for good quality and designs.
